We were just in Martinique in Jan. It was our first visit to that island. We took a ship tour but I can't remember the name. It was 4 hours and went all over the northern part of the island.
The rain forest was among the prettiest I have seen, really lush. We also toured through the town that was destroyed by the volcano, very narrow streets and black sand beaches. Also many ruins still there with folks building in and around those ruins. Interesting that down from the mountain the climate was very dry and brown! Such variety on a small island.
By the time we were done, the shops in town looked very crowded and we were tired so just went back to the ship. I would have liked to shop there a bit, but have to wait till next time.
I had heard the locals were very rude there. Can't say for the town shops but they were all very nice were we stopped. I greeted our tour guide with a little bit of high school French and we even had just a bit of further conversation. It was fun but as we continued I got nervous, he said my French was good and thanked me for trying. I greeted everyone I met in French and they would smile, then we would have a nice chat in English. I saw no English on any of their signs, enjoyed reading them and trying to figure out what they said. I seem to do better reading than speaking. Not bad since HS was over 40 years ago.
We all thought it was a beautiful island, one of the prettiest we've seen, and would like to go back there sometine. I would like to see the other part of the island and have more interactions with the locals, better brush up on my French fist though.
On our tour we went through a very old rum factory, had the best coconut rum I have ever tasted. Didn't have any small bottles of it and I didn't want to bring back a big bottle with all the flight restrictions in place now.
Carol ....................
Emerald Princess Mediterranean in
Emerald Princess Aug/Sept 08 Mediterranean
Star Princess Sept.07 Baltic
Sun Princess Jan, 07 Southern Caribbean
Sun Princess Nov, 05 Southern Caribbean
Celebrity Infinity Apr, 05 Hawaii
Grand Princess Mar, 04 Western Caribbean
Sun Princess Feb, 03 Panama Canal
Sea Princess Nov, 02 Southern Caribbean
Ocean Princess Jan, 01 Southern Caribbean
Majesty of the Seas Nov, 1999 Southern Caribbean
Regal Princess July 1995 Alaska
Just a few of the rain forest but a lot of the town from the ship and of the ruins in the town destroyed by the volcano. I will try to post a few later. Have to see if I remember how since I have to scan to computer first, don't have a digital camera.
Thanks for the frus.
Carol ....................
Emerald Princess Mediterranean in
Emerald Princess Aug/Sept 08 Mediterranean
Star Princess Sept.07 Baltic
Sun Princess Jan, 07 Southern Caribbean
Sun Princess Nov, 05 Southern Caribbean
Celebrity Infinity Apr, 05 Hawaii
Grand Princess Mar, 04 Western Caribbean
Sun Princess Feb, 03 Panama Canal
Sea Princess Nov, 02 Southern Caribbean
Ocean Princess Jan, 01 Southern Caribbean
Majesty of the Seas Nov, 1999 Southern Caribbean
Regal Princess July 1995 Alaska
I can relate to that!
Eventhough Ii do have a digital, I don't take it on cruises. I'm afraid of either losing it or ddropping it in the water, since I do so many water activities.
So, I just grab a disposable or two and a whole handful of underwater disposables for every cruise.
Every time I come back and pay the price for developing, then spend all that time scanning, I wonder about my sanity.
Houch .... Loved your report! Your wonderful info on this excrusion is just what cruisers need to know to make a decision about taking it! A couple of additional quiestions ... please ....
What type of transportation ... tour bus, mini-tour-bus, taxi ....?
What were the roads like going through the mountains?
Know this was a Princess excursion (... but most cruise lines offer about the same thing) ... Do you remember the name of the excursion?
Thanks again!
LuLu ... Visit SOUTH CAROLINA!
1/09 B2B (20 days) Emerald Princess
OVER 40 (started young) Princess, Celebrity, RCCL, HAL, NCL, Costa, Disney, Carnival, Sitmar (Princess bought), and (a very long time ago) SS Bahama Star
Houch .... Loved your report! Your wonderful info on this excrusion is just what cruisers need to know to make a decision about taking it! A couple of additional quiestions ... please ....
What type of transportation ... tour bus, mini-tour-bus, taxi ....? Tour bus, a very nice one!
What were the roads like going through the mountains? They were narrow and winding, often the driver had to honk as he approached a curve!
Know this was a Princess excursion (... but most cruise lines offer about the same thing) ... Do you remember the name of the excursion? It was St Pierre and Rum Distillery, tour FDF-A $76.00 for adult. More than I wanted to spend but it was a good tour, I enjoyed it.
Thanks again!
Any other questions? I haven't gotten to the pics yet.
Carol ....................
Emerald Princess Mediterranean in
Emerald Princess Aug/Sept 08 Mediterranean
Star Princess Sept.07 Baltic
Sun Princess Jan, 07 Southern Caribbean
Sun Princess Nov, 05 Southern Caribbean
Celebrity Infinity Apr, 05 Hawaii
Grand Princess Mar, 04 Western Caribbean
Sun Princess Feb, 03 Panama Canal
Sea Princess Nov, 02 Southern Caribbean
Ocean Princess Jan, 01 Southern Caribbean
Majesty of the Seas Nov, 1999 Southern Caribbean
Regal Princess July 1995 Alaska
Sounds like a very comfortable tour ... and with all you saw and did -- Worth the Price!
LuLu ... Visit SOUTH CAROLINA!
1/09 B2B (20 days) Emerald Princess
OVER 40 (started young) Princess, Celebrity, RCCL, HAL, NCL, Costa, Disney, Carnival, Sitmar (Princess bought), and (a very long time ago) SS Bahama Star